Executive career
Executive appointments across finance, digital, commercial and whole-business leadership, from international organisations to private equity-owned and ASX-listed businesses.
Current executive role
Universities Admissions Centre — Current CFO responsibility
I joined UAC as Chief Financial Officer in July 2025. The role combines financial stewardship, budgeting and forecasting, statutory reporting, procurement, vendor management and client billing with an understanding of the organisation’s wider purpose.
ROI.Partners operates alongside this role. Engagements have clearly defined responsibilities and appropriate regard for confidentiality and existing professional commitments.
Former career role
Open Colleges — Managing Director, CEO and Board Director
From February 2019 to December 2021, I led Open Colleges through a substantial turnaround ahead of a private equity exit. The work brought together a leadership reset, financial discipline, operating-model change and renewed commercial momentum.
Revenue increased from $45 million to $68 million over two years while I led the business. The turnaround also reduced the annual cost base from $93 million to approximately $49 million within 18 months, as recorded in my case-study materials.
The contribution was broader than a single financial measure: aligning the executive team, improving customer economics, restoring profitability and giving owners a stronger business with a credible path forward.
Former career role
Gooroo Ventures — ASX-listed executive leadership
From October 2016 to January 2019, my executive responsibilities at Gooroo Ventures (ASX: GOO) included Co-Chief Executive Officer and acting CFO roles. I worked on commercialising machine-learning technology for human-capital decisions, developing the customer proposition, capital raising and listed-company governance.
I took Gooroo from zero revenue to $2 million in annual recurring revenue within two years, turning machine-learning capability into a commercial proposition. The work combined product positioning, sales execution, customer development, financing and leadership in an ASX-listed business.
Leading in a listed environment also meant attention to reporting, governance and the confidence of stakeholders alongside the demands of a developing commercial business.
Former career role
Open Universities Australia — Executive General Manager and Chief Digital Officer
Across my time at Open Universities Australia between 2010 and 2016, I held different leadership positions, including Chief Digital Officer and Executive General Manager. The scope developed from digital strategy and transformation into responsibility across a portfolio of education and digital businesses, with marketing, sales and business P&Ls.
As Chief Digital Officer, I worked on the transformation of the customer proposition and operating model: moving from a catalogue-led offering towards digital commerce, strengthening customer acquisition and analytics, and connecting technology with commercial performance. The work also involved developing the people and delivery practices needed for a changing business.
As Executive General Manager, my responsibilities included the conception, build and launch of Open2Study and P&L responsibility for e3Learning, Open Training Institute and domain registry businesses. This brought together new ventures, established operations, corporate learning, customer growth and the demands of managing multiple business models.
My contribution included acquisition and integration work, commercial development and the eventual sale of e3Learning. The operating agenda required attention to financial performance, customer economics, organisational capability and the relationship with owners and the wider leadership team.
I applied practical Agile ways of working, including Scrum and Kanban, to priorities and delivery. Former managers and colleagues describe the combination of rigorous analysis, creativity, commercial judgement and an ability to build loyalty and execution capacity.
Former career role
SEEK — Operating Partner deployed to IELTS Australia and IDP Education
From 2007 to 2010, I worked as Operating Partner within SEEK’s investment portfolio, with particular deployment to IELTS Australia and IDP Education. My functional responsibilities included digital strategy and international transformation, connecting investor objectives with the operating capabilities of the portfolio businesses.
I built and coordinated digital sales operations across more than 15 markets. The work brought together customer acquisition, web platforms, analytics, CRM, local commercial teams and the executive stakeholders responsible for international growth.
For IELTS Australia, the work included the development of digital commerce and online test-booking channels. For IDP Education, it involved the transition towards scalable digital customer acquisition and more connected customer and sales information across international markets.
The mandate required both regional coordination and sensitivity to local conditions. Contemporary colleague accounts describe practical work with teams in China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan and senior-stakeholder relationships across several organisations.
This portfolio operating experience informs how I connect an investment thesis with customer economics, management accountability and execution in ANZ and APAC. The digital transformation work also contributed foundations for IDP’s later IPO readiness; it is distinct from leading that later transaction.
I played an instrumental role in strengthening IDP Education’s valuation and the operating foundations for its future IPO. Working across multiple international markets, I connected digital strategy, customer acquisition and commercial execution with investor priorities. This was a contribution during my portfolio assignment to the business’s development ahead of its later listing.
Former career role
Google — Senior Account Associate and Product Specialist
I joined Google in Europe during its post-IPO expansion. In Dublin from 2005 to 2007, I worked across digital commercial performance, analytics, product and market development, and sales and marketing activity across EMEA and Latin America. I experienced the European organisation growing from approximately 250 to 3,000 people over three years, contributing to the commercial and customer capabilities that supported international growth.
For context, Google’s worldwide international revenue grew from US$1.07 billion in FY2004 to US$7.90 billion in FY2007. My contribution sat within that wider expansion: helping advertisers grow, developing product expertise and strengthening international commercial execution. The company figures below describe the scale of the business, rather than revenue personally attributable to me.
The experience included contributions to international sales operations and the development of analytics-led commercial capability. Historical recommendations recognise expertise in search, online marketing and analytics alongside customer understanding, people leadership and commercial judgement.
These foundations remain relevant to my executive and advisory work: understand the customer, make the economics visible and connect technical capability with a business outcome.
| Geographic area | FY2004 revenue | FY2007 revenue |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $402.8 million 12.6% of total | $2.53 billion 15.3% of total |
| Total international | $1.07 billion 33.6% of total | $7.90 billion 47.6% of total |
| Global revenue | $3.189 billion | $16.594 billion |
Sources: Google FY2006 Form 10-K, Note 14 and Google FY2007 Form 10-K, Note 14. Rounded figures; international includes the UK and the rest of the world. FY2004 is a company growth baseline, rather than my employment start date.
Former career role
Fujitsu Consulting — Senior Financial Analyst
Earlier in my career, I worked as Senior Financial Analyst at Fujitsu Consulting, supporting the Senior Vice President of Development. The position placed financial analysis in the context of senior leadership and the development of the business.
That experience helped establish the analytical discipline and understanding of executive decision-making that I later brought to CFO, Managing Director and investment-related work. Finance is most useful when it helps a leader understand the choices and their consequences.
Former career role
Carphone Warehouse — Price Analyst and strategy
My work as a Price Analyst at Carphone Warehouse focused on pricing and strategy in a retail and telecommunications environment. It provided an early perspective on the relationship between the customer proposition, price and commercial performance.
That foundation continues to inform my work on customer economics, product value and profitable growth. Pricing is part of a wider business model, connected to the customer experience, the cost of delivery and the way a business competes.
Former career role
Usera Plaza — Accountant
My early experience as an accountant at Usera Plaza established foundations in financial information, commercial discipline and accountability. It forms part of the broader finance and operating perspective I bring to business leadership today.
Current portfolio
I run these current operating partner, chair, corporate advisory, mentoring and venture roles through ROI.Partners alongside my executive career. Each appointment has its own mandate and responsibilities.
Current · Founder and Operating Partner
ROI.Partners — Founder and Operating Partner
Since January 2022, ROI.Partners has been the practice through which I undertake portfolio, governance, advisory and consulting work alongside my executive career. My current appointments are set out below, followed by my past portfolio.
I work as Business Operating Partner for Lumens Capital Partners and Operating Partner for Vanta Global. These mandates connect my executive and financial experience with investor priorities, regional strategy and portfolio value creation.
I have worked with four private equity firms and supported more than ten PE and venture capital firms over my career. My experience includes assignments involving Apollo Global Management, The Vistria Group, Vanta and EQT, spanning investment assessment, operating performance, growth and transformation.
Current · Chair
MANA — Chair
I am the current Chair of MANA, an intelligent child development platform serving educators and families. This is a chair appointment within my ROI.Partners governance portfolio.
Current · Chair
BEING — Chair
I am the current Chair of BEING (Being Early Education). The appointment brings board leadership and strategic oversight to my portfolio in early childhood education.
Current · Business Operating Partner
Lumens Capital Partners — Business Operating Partner
I am a current Business Operating Partner for Lumens Capital Partners, bringing my executive, financial and transformation experience to my investor-facing portfolio through ROI.Partners.
Current · Operating Partner
Vanta Global — Operating Partner
I am a current Operating Partner for Vanta Global. This appointment is part of my ROI.Partners portfolio and draws on my experience in executive leadership, enterprise transformation and private equity-owned businesses.
Current · Corporate Advisor
ECTOL — Corporate Advisor
I am a current Corporate Advisor to ECTOL, a plant and crop nutrition business serving agriculture and horticulture. This is a corporate advisory mandate within my ROI.Partners portfolio.
Current · Corporate Advisor
Talent Street — Corporate Advisor
I am a current Corporate Advisor to Talent Street. The appointment brings my executive, financial and commercial perspective to the business through ROI.Partners.
Current · Corporate Advisor for the Americas
ICANA — Corporate Advisor for the Americas
I am a current Corporate Advisor for the Americas for ICANA. My regional mandate brings an international commercial and operating perspective to its AI business.
Current · Independent Committee Member
Hunters Hill Council — Independent Audit and Risk Committee Member
I am a current independent member of Hunters Hill Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee. This is a committee appointment, contributing independent oversight and advice on risk, controls, assurance and organisational improvement.
It is a distinct governance mandate, with responsibilities separate from a company board directorship.
Current · APAC Mentor
Niu Ventures — APAC Mentor
I am a current APAC Mentor with Niu Ventures. This role brings my international operating experience and regional perspective to founder mentoring within my ROI.Partners portfolio.
Current · Advisor to the Chair
Life. Be in it. — Advisor to the Chair
I am a current advisor to Dr Colin Benjamin, Chair of Life. Be in it. This advisory relationship forms part of my ROI.Partners portfolio.
Current · Founder
Sadeedra — Founder
I am the Founder of Sadeedra, an AI venture at the concept and prototype stage. It adds an entrepreneurial perspective to my work on AI, governance and enterprise value creation.
Past portfolio
These completed board, chair and advisory mandates are part of my track record. They are historical appointments, with the nature of each role identified below.
Past · Chair
Sprout — Former Chair
I am a former Chair of Sprout, a software platform focused on childcare compliance. I was appointed in June 2022. The role forms part of my past technology and education governance experience.
Past · Chair
International House Sydney Training — Former Chair
I am a former Non-Executive and Independent Chair of International House Sydney Training, having been appointed in January 2022. The role brought together strategic direction, students’ interests and the commercial and governance demands of an education business.
Past · Chair
PBL Education — Former Chair
I am a former Chair of PBL Education. This appointment forms part of my education-sector governance and chair experience.
Past · Advisory Chair
InvestorGate — Former Advisory Chair
I am a former Advisory Chair of InvestorGate. The mandate forms part of my investment-related advisory and chair experience.
Past · Advisory Chair
Vimbal.ai — Former Advisory Chair
I am a former Advisory Chair of Vimbal.ai. This was an advisory chair mandate, contributing strategic and commercial perspective to the business.
Past · Non-Executive Director
Governance Institute of Australia — Former Non-Executive Director
I am a former Non-Executive Director of Governance Institute of Australia. My appointment was announced in November 2024 and forms part of my board experience in professional education and governance.
Past · Advisor
Zall Asesores — Advisory experience
My earlier advisory experience includes real-estate consulting firm Zall Asesores S.L. It adds another commercial setting to my career and portfolio track record.
Entrepreneurial experience
Building ventures adds an ownership perspective to my work with investors, boards and leadership teams. My Founder roles are ROI.Partners, Sadeedra and AgQuote.
Founder · venture experience
AgQuote — Founder
I am a Founder of AgQuote, applying digital thinking in agriculture. This venture experience informs how I assess a proposition, understand the market and build the capability needed to develop a sustainable business.
Professional foundations and community contribution
Professional development includes the AICD Company Directors Course, INSEAD’s Asian International Executive Programme and two Stanford professional development courses on financing innovation and building business models. These complement my tertiary finance and management qualifications.
Beyond business, I lead SaferBusStops.org, a community initiative advocating for safer bus stops and transport interchanges in NSW.
“He has demonstrated the ability to develop visionary plans gaining buy-in from senior executive and board directors.”
“Jose is a digital strategist of the highest order, who delivers on time and within budget.”
Selected excerpts from LinkedIn recommendations · View my public profile
International perspective
My professional and personal connections span Australia, Spain, Ireland, China, Singapore and the United States. Sydney and Melbourne are part of my Australian leadership journey; Madrid and Dublin reflect important foundations and connections; Guiyang, Singapore and the Americas add to the wider perspective I bring.
The scenes below express that international outlook. They are generated geographic interpretations, rather than photographs of my workplaces or a statement that ROI.Partners has offices in each location.
Experience in the public record
Contemporaneous coverage includes iTnews on Open2Study’s agile delivery and techpartner.news on Open Colleges’ ICT training partnership. These reports add context to the assignments described here.